Battle of Somme: Kate Middleton turns heads in bespoke lace dress alongside Princes William and Harry

The Duchess of Cambridge made a second stylish appearance for the 100<sup>th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on Friday morning (30 June) in France, oozing feminine elegance in a nude lace dress and fascinator hat.

All eyes were on 34-year-old Kate Middleton as she emerged at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial service in Thiepval, the morning after she attended a vigil alongside her husband the Duke of Cambridge and brother-in-law Prince Harry at the same location.

Middleton looked ladylike in a custom-made dress featuring a peplum detail, Peter Pan collar and a black underlay. She completed the ensemble with her trustee black court shoes, a simple clutch bag and a recycled hat by Lock & Co.

The mother-of-two kept her hair and make-up simple and sophisticated, wearing her favourite chic updo of recent times and distinctive eyeliner along with some pearl drop earrings for the finishing touches.

As well as Princes William and Harry, Middleton was accompanied by Prime Minister David Cameron, French president Francois Hollande and Irish president Michael D Higgins for the centenary tributes for the Battle of the Somme.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also joined the young royals, with Camilla looking demure in a navy polka dot dress, navy overcoat and statement hat.

Members of the public gathered at the memorial among veterans and servicemen before a two minutes' silence was held. It marked the moment whistles were blown on the first day of battle in 1916 where a million men were left dead and injured.

Tributes to the fallen commenced last night (30 June) as Middleton, the Duke of Cambridge and Harry to paid their respects at a poignant vigil, also held at the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy.

The Queen and Prince Philip remained in the UK for a service at Westminster Abbey commemorating the anniversary, where Cameron and his wife Samantha were also in attendance.

The Duchess, 34, looked equally as stylish as her Friday morning appearance in an understated, chic grey coat to reflect the downcast mood. The 1970s-esque monochrome coat featured a zig-zag pattern – a distinct trademark of the luxury Italian fashion house Missoni – with a single breast and demure knee-length cut, costing £2994.

Middleton wore a black pencil skirt underneath and completed the elegant look with black heels, a clutch bag and a Jackie Onassis-style black pillarbox hat.

The young royals looked sombre as they at the vigil which commemorated the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in one of the bloodiest battles in human history in 1916, with communities uniting across Britain to remember the dead after a century.

William reflected on the tragic loss of life on July 1 1916 in a poignant address written by Birdsong novelist Sebastian Faulks. He told the assembled guests: "We lost the flower of a generation; and in the years to come it sometimes seemed that with them a sense of vital optimism had disappeared forever from British life.

He added: "It was in many ways the saddest day in the long story of our nation. Tonight we think of them as they nerved themselves for what lay ahead. We acknowledge the failures of European governments, including our own, to prevent the catastrophe of world war."